Hua Hin, Thailand's Royal Beach Resort

Hua Hin Destination Info

The oldest and most traditional Thai holiday resort combines the attractions of a modern travel destination with the charm and fascination of a still active fishing port. And while most other Thai holiday destinations cater mainly to foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a holiday resort for both foreigners and Thais.

Besides its great 5 mile (8 kilometer) long beach Hua Hin provides accommodation options of all levels, great restaurants of all cuisines and price levels, and last but not lest the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand.

History

While the beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui were discovered only recently and have since undergone rapid and oftentimes destructive development, Hua Hin has already been the favourite Thai resort for over 90 years.

The resort was discovered in the early 1920s by King Rama VII as an ideal getaway from the sultry metropolis of Bangkok. The tranquil fishing village was turned into the Royal Resort and consequently became popular among Siam's nobility and upper-class.

The construction of a railway line from Bangkok ensured its accessibility and popularity with a wider part of the the Thai public.

But it essentially was the resort's royal endorsement which has given Hua Hin a special character of its very own.

In 1928, King Rama VII built Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace which remains until this today an official royal residence. It is still frequently used by members of the royal family and is open to the public for visits.

Hua Hin continued to develop in its own leisurely way, both as an aristocratic resort with the added attraction of one of Asia's first 18-hole golf courses, and as a fishing port. The Railway Hotel, today's Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, was built by the State Railways of Thailand in 1923 in the architectural style of old Siam. Many of Bangkok's rich and famous built their own beachfront summer homes to the north and south along the curving sandy bay, enjoying **leisurely family weekends*8 in a resort that has maintained its unique identity.

Attractions

Today's visitor to Hua Hin will still sense this special atmosphere and old world charm. Hua Hin has weathered the onslaught of modern development and construction far better than all other resorts of Thailand - with perhaps the exception of (beach-less) Chiang Mai -. The central town around the temple and toward the beach is free of high-rise construction with the exception of the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa.

Besides sun-filled days on the long beach there are leisure activities for the whole family from watersports (especially kite-boarding has become popular in recent years) to golf. The area around the town let's you discover fabulous parks and peaks, caves and waterfalls.

In the evening the winding roads with a great variety of shops, restaurants and nightlife establishments make for an interesting and relaxing stroll. And the seaside restaurants built on stilts into the sea offer superb seafood in the legendary and unsurpassed preparation of the Thai cuisine, at still very affordable prices.

Hua Hin has all the ingredients for a very special holiday experience.

Recent Accolades

Huffington Post, July 24, 2013

Hua Hin has (again) been chosen as one of the world's best places to retire by Live and Invest Overseas. Strong points for Hua Hin were the low cost of living in general and the affordability of beach-front living in particular, as well as its overall expat-friendlyness.

The only other place in Thailand to make the list is Chiang Mai on its excellent health care facilities and even lower cost of living compared with Hua Hin.